Betty Deese Porter

Betty Deese Porter was born on July 9, 1932, in Locust, North Carolina, to James W. and Pearl (Hathcock) Deese, and she passed away on August 27, 2024, at the Republic County Hospital in Belleville, at the age of 92 years, 1 month, and 18 days.

Betty graduated in 1950 from Stanfield High School where she was a superb basketball player. She was united in marriage to Spurgeon H. Porter on June 10, 1950, and to this union of 52 years two children were born, Barry and Debra. 

She worked in the office of Canon Mills and retired from Fieldcrest Canon after 42 years of service. Betty was a lifelong resident of Locust, North Carolina, until relocating to Belleville in 2016. 

Her hobbies were baking and gardening but her service to her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, was always her primary focus. It was evident in her love for family, her service to the community and her devotion to her church, The First Baptist Church of Locust. She was church secretary for many years. She was a Sunday school teacher, helped set up the church library, member of senior citizens and member of WMU. She also worked with the GA’s (girls in action) for 6 years.

She is preceded in death by her parents James and Pearl, and her husband Spurgeon in January 2003. Also, by brothers Harold Deese, and Herbert Deese; sisters, Blanche Deese, Annette Carpenter and Kathleen Kluttz.

She is survived by her son Barry Porter and his wife Anna of Belleville, daughter Debra Porter of Mt. Pleasant, North Carolina; granddaughters Kaycee Porter and Celia Porter, grandson Blake Porter, and great-grandson Parker McIlvain.

Memorial Services will be held later this fall at the First Baptist Church in Locust, North Carolina, with burial following at the church cemetery. 

Memorials are requested to the First Baptist Church of Locust, and may be sent to Tibbetts-Fischer Funeral Home, PO Box 566, Belleville, Kansas, 66935.

Tibbetts-Fischer Funeral Home is assisting the Porter family with these arrangements, www.tibbettsfischerfuneralhome.com